LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the province today to check on the situation of his “kailians” affected by Super Typhoon Egay and led the distribution of various government assistance.
Since the onset of Super Typhoon Egay, the Chief Executive ordered a whole-of-nation approach in dealing with the aftermath of the calamity and ordered all concerned government agencies to ensure the rehabilitation of areas affected by the super typhoon.
With this, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD) provided calamity assistance amounting to P10,000 each to 1,000 Ilocos Norte residents affected by the onslaught of Super Typhoon Egay.
This is under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, which is one of the Philippine government’s initiatives to provide immediate and temporary aid to individuals and families who need financial support due to catastrophic events and calamities.
The awarding of this assistance was held earlier at the Provincial Capitol grounds in this city.
According to Lorna Rafanan, SWAD team leader of DSWD Ilocos Norte Field Office, their priority beneficiaries are residents with totally or partially damaged houses and displaced individuals in evacuation centers.
A total of 500 beneficiaries are from the town of Bacarra, 30 from Laoag City, 150 from Piddig, 98 from San Nicolas, 22 from Badoc, and 200 from Sarrat.
Aside from financial assistance, the beneficiaries also received family food packs and non-food items.
Additionally, the National Housing Authority through its Emergency Housing Assistance Program, provided a P20,000 each to five beneficiaries with totally damaged houses to help rebuild their homes.
Judy Grace Galam, a calamity assistance beneficiary, shared that during the onslaught of the typhoon, some of their livestock chickens did not survive due to flooding in their area in Barangay 15 San Roque, Bacarra.
Meanwhile, her brother, Joseph Galam, shared that due to the strong rains and wind during the typhoon, some parts of his home were soaked with water and his roof was damaged.
“Malaking bagay ito sa akin kasi kahit na nasira ang aking bubong, maaayos ko pa ito. Maraming salamat kay Presidente Bongbong Marcos sa mga tulong niya sa aming mga nangangailangan,” he said. (JCR/AMB/EJFG PIA Ilocos Norte)
